The process of recounting votes at four polling stations in NA-231 Karachi faced disruption when unidentified individuals forcibly took possession of the bags containing votes and subsequently set them on fire under the watch of local law enforcement, who reportedly did not intervene.
The electoral disturbance arose during a tightly contested election in which Abdul Hakim Baloch of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) secured a victory with a narrow margin of 389 votes over his rival.
Following concerns raised by Khalid Mahmood, the candidate from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), a tribunal mandated a recount at these specific polling stations to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the election results. The ordered recount was part of efforts to address allegations of voting irregularities and confirm the electoral outcome in this closely watched race.